In this story, we look at how igus linear guide carriages made from motion plastics have contributed to the success of one company’s baseball-themed rocking chairs. In 2013, the New York Yankees presented newly retired Hall of Fame pitcher and legendary closer, Mariano Rivera with a unique rocking chair made entirely from baseball bats. The…
Sustainable packaging made from used cooking oil?
• Packaging, made with SABIC polymer that uses mass-balance certified bio-renewable feedstock from used frying oil, achieves around 30% carbon footprint reduction and 20% thickness reduction of the coextrusion film. • The initiative targets a comprehensive value chain between SABIC, Lamb Weston, and OPACKGROUP. SABIC has joined forces with Lamb Weston, a major global brand…
Sustainable materials help in food vacuum system application
SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, reports that B!POD, a business unit of SAES Getters, has selected SABIC’s OBP-based polypropylene resin as the material for their containers. In close collaboration, the partners selected SABIC® PP 576P, a high-gloss grade from the company’s TRUCIRCLETM portfolio of circular resins. The container material has an OBP…
PCB-mount tactile switches come in three heights and force options
Littelfuse, Inc. announced the relaunch of its PTS647 Series Surface-Mounted Tactile Switch featuring significant design upgrades for improved noise performance, durability, and dust resistance. These enhancements make the PTS647 series ideal for applications that require a compact size, low-noise output, and long-lasting tactile feedback. (View the video). Measuring just 4.5 x 4.5 mm, the PTS647 Series is […]
Teknic ClearPath motors now rated IP66K and IP67 for washdowns
Teknic has obtained IP66K and IP67 ratings for its ClearPath integrated brushless servo motors in the 1 to 4 HP continuous power range. The motors are designed as totally enclosed, non-ventilated (TENV) units that can withstand high-pressure washdowns and temporary water submersion up to 1 m when not operating. The IP66K rating indicates protection against high-pressure,…
Greene Tweed proves seal compatibility with sustainable aviation fuels
Greene Tweed has released results from a study confirming the compatibility of its fluorine-based elastomer seals with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). The results provide critical insights for aerospace leaders transitioning to sustainable, low-emission fuels, while ensuring safety and reliability. As the aerospace industry focuses on decarbonization, SAFs offer substantial CO2 reductions of over 65% compared…
How Accumold uses AI for micro-molding project decisions
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) dominates headlines and stirs conversations across every industry, the question isn’t whether AI will impact manufacturing; it’s how. Accumold views AI as a powerful tool to enhance human expertise, not replace it. “At Accumold, we see AI as an enabler, not a substitute,” said Roger Hargens, president and…
Materials science helps lighten the load for this space shuttle
SABIC recently announced the company’s collaboration with Branch Technology to develop lightweight panels to restore the exterior of the Pathfinder, an early test article for the NASA space shuttle orbiter. Branch Technology used its cellular fabrication (C-Fab) process and SABIC’s advanced LNP THERMOCOMP compound to robotically 3D-print a matrix structure that forms the core of…
Tor Alva is the world’s tallest 3D-printed building at 30 meters high
The world’s tallest 3D-printed tower, known as Tor Alva (meaning “White Tower” in Romansh), was inaugurated in Mulegns, Switzerland. The building showcases how digital construction techniques can be used to build load-bearing structures without formwork. It is an initiative of the Origen cultural foundation (Nova Fundaziun Origen) in collaboration with ETH Zurich, and is designed…
What is the role of interconnects in continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)?
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) rely on precision electronic components — including specialized connectors and interconnects — to ensure accurate sensing, signal integrity, and reliable data transmission. This article reviews the core functionality of CGMs and highlights the key role of interconnects in these critical medical devices. It also explores how miniaturization drives next-generation CGM design, […]
SABIC launches new Ultem resin for high-voltage EV applications
SABIC is launching a new extrusion grade of Ultem resin with productivity and other advantages over incumbent materials used in EV applications. “Higher voltages are a common theme across electrical applications from connectors and capacitors to wire and cable,” said Sergi Monros, vice president of SABIC Polymers, Specialties BU, in a press release. “While high voltages…
Selecting silicone for space: where to start
Function, purity, and process are key considerations when researching aerospace materials. Daniel Hess, applications engineer at NuSil, explains silicone’s unique characteristics and guidance for choosing the right material. Humans have used silicon-based materials for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence from ancient Chinese, Egyptian, and Phoenician cultures. However, Jöns Jakob Berzelius, known as “The Father…
Master Bond’s new toughened UV-curable adhesive cures rapidly
Master Bond UV15-7HP is a low-viscosity, easy-to-apply, one-part, UV-curable adhesive system. Optimal adhesion is achieved in bond line thicknesses of 0.001 to 0.003 in., and it can cure rapidly with a minimum intensity of 20 to 40 mW/cm2 using a UV light source emitting at a wavelength of 320 to 365 nm. The material can…
ElectroCraft enhances focus on domestic production and innovation
ElectroCraft has announced a renewed focus on U.S.-based manufacturing, research, and development to continue supporting the American market. Manufactured in the USA, serving global markets Headquartered in the United States, ElectroCraft is expanding its production facilities in Gallipolis, Ohio; Princeton, Indiana; and Ann Arbor, Michigan, to support its range of brushless DC motors, PMDC brush…
PHD’s new online product selector tool simplifies automation
PHD announced the launch of the PHD Online Product Selector Tool, a new resource designed to simplify the selection and configuration of automation components. This tool enables engineers and manufacturers to quickly identify the best linear actuators and Cartesian systems for their applications, improving efficiency and minimizing the risk of selecting an incorrect actuator. With…
ECM and Thrustmaster announce partnership on Simracing Wheel with PCB Stator technology
U.S. electric motor design software firm ECM and global gaming leader Thrustmaster have announced a partnership on the development of products integrating ECM’s PCB Stator technology. To highlight the collaboration, ECM has released a case study on Thrustmaster’s T598 simracing wheel, which incorporates an optimized motor designed on ECM’s award-winning PrintStator platform. A first of…
What types of connectors are used in medical devices?
Medical devices of all sizes and types rely on connectors to ensure safe and reliable power delivery, data transmission, and fluid management. Many of these medical-grade connectors are rated for biocompatibility (ISO 10993), environmental sealing (IEC 60529), and electromagnetic interference (EMI) resistance (IEC 60601-1-2). This article highlights various medical connectors, such as implantable devices, card-edge […]
Looking at the state of geopolitics in 2025
At the recent National Fluid Power Association’s Annual Conference in Tucson, brothers Alex and Eugene Chausovsky of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy spoke about geopolitical disruption and what it can mean for manufacturers. They highlighted how today we have a multipolarity in the world, with global powers (the U.S. and China), global players…
SEW-EURODRIVE introduces DR2C motor, an IE5 ultra-premium efficiency motor
SEW-EURODRIVE is setting a new standard for efficiency with the launch of the DR2C motor, an IE5 ultra-premium efficiency motor engineered for wide speed range operation and maximum long-term energy cost reductions. Designed for industries focused on minimizing total cost of ownership (TCO), the DR2C reduces energy consumption, minimizes heat losses, and enhances operational reliability—delivering…
Emerson to present Floor to Cloud solutions at Hannover Messe 2025
Emerson will demonstrate how it’s transforming the future of factory automation through its proven Floor to Cloud approach and comprehensive portfolio at Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany, from March 31 to April 4, 2025. Visitors to the Emerson booth (Hall 11, Booth C30) will learn how companies of any size can apply a Floor to Cloud…
Q5D’s printed electronics techniques solve designer frustrations
Simon Baggott of Q5D Technologies explains how new techniques simplify manufacturing for the automotive and aerospace industries. Whether you’re creating vehicles, vessels, aircraft or consumer electronics, the near-constant tension between aspirational innovation and physics or economics will be all too familiar. You’ll have progressive ideas about forms or functions you’d like your products to have,…
Easy locking connector adapts to industrial requirements
binder is expanding its portfolio: The easy locking connector (ELC) of the 570 series, originally developed for homecare applications and already proven in many medical applications, is now also available in black. This new color variant is the result of increased industry demand. The shock and vibration-resistant ELC remains available in a 12-pin version. The […]
Medical-grade dual-curable adhesive enables fast fixturing with LED light
Master Bond LED415DC90Med is a one component, dual cure adhesive system designed for high-speed manufacturing of medical electronic devices. It cures rapidly without oxygen inhibition upon exposure to 405 nm LED light, followed by a short 30-45 minute heat cure at 90-95°C, making it well-suited for bonding heat sensitive components. LED415DC90Med passes ISO 10993-5 requirements…
How does an electronic tongue sense: part 1
When sensors that detect the five senses, hearing, sight, feeling, smell, and taste, are discussed, the one that usually gets mentioned the least is taste. Electronic ears, eyes, touch, and noses have far more available products than electronic tongues – but that could change. Like many sensors, the underlying technology for an electronic tongue (or […]
Addressing data silos in manufacturing: Strategies for improvement
In manufacturing and maintenance, data plays a critical role in operations. However, isolated data repositories, or silos, can limit collaboration, efficiency, and decision-making. Strategic Maintenance Solutions, Inc. examines data silos in manufacturing and maintenance and explores strategies to address them. The challenge of data silos Data silos are common in manufacturing and maintenance due to…